Residents speak out on future of Bergfeld Park

TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - About 30 people gathered in Bergfeld Park Thursday evening to listen
and propose suggestions on the revitalization on one of the city's
oldest parks.

Mark Spencer, of MHS planning and design, a Tyler
architectural firm, outlined five key areas of proposed improvements to
the park, including the amphitheater, tennis courts, playground
equipment and a potential splash park. Spencer said the objective was
not to change the park drastically, but offer subtle improvements to the
popular park, nestled in the heart of the Azalea District.

"The
most important part about Bergfeld is the general feel," he said. "From
everything we have heard at this point, the main attraction to Bergfeld
is the lawns and the trees."

The amphitheater was
first constructed during the Works Progress Administration, and Spencer
said the firm had no intention of removing the period rock that lines
the 1,000 seat structure.

Discussions centered on how best to use the area, soften the concrete stage that was built in the 1980s, and provide shade.

One
option was leaving about 225 seats, and turning the rest of the
concrete into a grassy area where other activities could go on.

"It would give us
another lawn area for general organized play, sunbathing, whatever it
may be and soften that whole area by keeping the parameter with stone
walls."

The idea was to make the area more family-friendly with
stabilized seating for some and a grassy area for kids to be able to
play and families to picnic. Suggestions included having a grassy hill
or tiered layers for ground viewing of amphitheater events.

Community
members expressed mixed feeling with doing away with the historic but
uncomfortable seats. Some said removing the concrete would cut down on
heat, and add comfort, while others said requiring families to bring
lawn chairs would add to an already congested traffic problem.

Spencer
said another proposition for cutting down on the heat included using
the existing light structure to pull fabric roofs over the concrete
theater, with the canvases also helping with sound projection.

For
the tennis courts, Spencer suggested either fixing them or turning them
into a basketball or multi-use courts, but most of the group was in
favor of updating the existing courts. Some suggested the courts are the
only flat portion of the park and also serve other functions when big
events are held at Bergfeld.

Spencer also suggested improving the
landscaping and feel of the park because of its location on the Azalea
Trail, adding the area only has six azalea bushes. There are also three
different types of benches, and few concrete slabs underneath picnic
tables, which add to the maintenance of the park.

The existing playground equipment is an older style and exceeded its usefulness, Spencer said.

"We
are seeing a shift to a different kind of playground, and it's a little
more integrated into the natural environment," he said.

The idea
for the renovations came from the Bergfeld Neighborhood Committee, and
the funds for MHS's services was pull through a partnership with the
committee and the city of Tyler, said Don Warren with the neighborhood
committee.

Spencer said the firm is half way through the planning
process of the park, but wanted to gauge the community that would use it
before making any final decisions. Following the meeting, the firm will
make a second plan and bring it back to community members for approval.

Once a final plan and schematic is in place, community members and the city would address how to fund the project.

"We
are visiting with the city about using the a half-cent sales tax, or a
public-private partnership, but what I've found its people who want to
give money want to see something on paper, not now just something in our
heard," Warren said.